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themissyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Blood, Child death, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Abortion, and Sexual violence
Mr Hancock’s late wife died in childbirth and the baby was stillborn these are established in ch 1 and are important to the grief exploration.imogenoakes's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Child death, Colonisation, and Death
markitherainbowreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
ježišmarja
Historické zasazení fajn. Celkem pěkný jazyk. (možná je v originále ještě hezčí idk)
To samo o sobě ale hezkou knížku nevykouzlí. Postavy jsou v lepším případě celkem nudné (Hancock), jinak ale celkem na zabití (Angelika a její amant). Zbytek je zapomenutelný. Výjimkou byla Sukie a Polly, jejíž postava měla hrozně velký potenciál - když už tam autorka naznačila témato rasy a zajímavý kontrast mezi Polly a Simeonem, proč potom Pollyina linka skončila tím, že odešla do temné uličky a nikdy více jsme o ní neslyšeli? Hlavně ale jsem nebyla schopná se s tahouny této knihy jakkoliv propojit a v té chvíli mi bylo úplně jedno, jak jejich osudy dopadnou.
Zápletka a fokus knihy podivně poskakovaly, občas se mi zdálo, že to samé dělá i žánr. Aspoň se to dobře četlo, kapitoly byly krátké.
Pěkně vytvořený a popsaný svět, ale poté podle mě nepříliš dobře uchopný příběh a postavy.
Škoda, mořské panny mám moc ráda.
Historické zasazení fajn. Celkem pěkný jazyk. (možná je v originále ještě hezčí idk)
To samo o sobě ale hezkou knížku nevykouzlí. Postavy jsou v lepším případě celkem nudné (Hancock), jinak ale celkem na zabití (Angelika a její amant). Zbytek je zapomenutelný. Výjimkou byla Sukie a Polly, jejíž postava měla hrozně velký potenciál - když už tam autorka naznačila témato rasy a zajímavý kontrast mezi Polly a Simeonem, proč potom Pollyina linka skončila tím, že odešla do temné uličky a nikdy více jsme o ní neslyšeli? Hlavně ale jsem nebyla schopná se s tahouny této knihy jakkoliv propojit a v té chvíli mi bylo úplně jedno, jak jejich osudy dopadnou.
Zápletka a fokus knihy podivně poskakovaly, občas se mi zdálo, že to samé dělá i žánr. Aspoň se to dobře četlo, kapitoly byly krátké.
Pěkně vytvořený a popsaný svět, ale poté podle mě nepříliš dobře uchopný příběh a postavy.
Škoda, mořské panny mám moc ráda.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Classism, and Colonisation
shinypurplepants's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
Recommended to readers of "Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norell"
This is a windy, sad tale, yes about a dark sort of mermaid, but mostly about frivolous people. There are also intense moments of tragedy here.
There's a lot to be said about historical fiction that confronts the women's place in the world. For me I find it draining more than uplifting.
This is a windy, sad tale, yes about a dark sort of mermaid, but mostly about frivolous people. There are also intense moments of tragedy here.
There's a lot to be said about historical fiction that confronts the women's place in the world. For me I find it draining more than uplifting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Pregnancy, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Rape
ceilisbookshelf's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Classism
anapthine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infertility, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Confinement
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Ableism
opal94's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This for sure was quite a bizarre read. Despite the story spanning a total of about 500 pages, I found that once I sat down to read it, I effectively breezed through the words. And yet, despite that, the plot of the novel is it's weakest point in my opinion. The language of the book is gorgeous, as is the setting. The characters aren't particularly lovable or relatable, but then again do they have to be? I did like the character of Angelica. Despite that though, her character development seemed to come sort of out of the blue. But still, it's an interesting read. The pace of the story is slow, but honestly, I found that it really seems to work for this story in particular. Well, I think it's one of those books that might not be everyone's cup of tea. I'm walking away from it with mixed feelings, but I do still think it's worth a read, even if for the setting and gorgeous language.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Child death, and Sexual content
suneaters's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It took me awhile to really like and root for the two main characters. There’s a lot that’s sympathetic about them—one has a wife and child lost at birth and the other is prostituted. However, it took time for me to really and truly root for them, especially Angelica. I honestly felt she was immature for 27 and getting into debts like girl this George guy already tried to leave you once! It also seemed like there was a foreshadowing about Bel that just never happened?
I liked the magical realism and how we never got a straight answer as to if any of it was real which was neat. I appreciated the ambiguity. The historical racism, sexism, and classism is also here and you can tell how it impacts everyone. I was so worried about Polly, but that last scene with Mrs. Chappel does seem to imply that she’s alright which is good!
I liked the magical realism and how we never got a straight answer as to if any of it was real which was neat. I appreciated the ambiguity. The historical racism, sexism, and classism is also here and you can tell how it impacts everyone. I was so worried about Polly, but that last scene with Mrs. Chappel does seem to imply that she’s alright which is good!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Racism
cevec's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Beautiful lyrical writing and a rich sense of history and place, but I found it overwhelmingly slow paced. Any sort of payoff by the end was not worth how long it took to get there!
I enjoyed the imagery and plot of the mermaid and how it could represent womanhood, femininity as a whole, particularly at that time, mirroring how each female character was trapped in someway, somehow at that time. And the longing to escape. But also on a wider scale of each character, each trying to escape their own lives for bigger, better and greater things. But do they, and do we, ever truly find it?
I found the scene of Mrs Chappell's death grimly fascinating, and how she sees who we can only presume is Polly right at the end. A juxtaposition of perhaps a "death" of one way life for women and Polly seemingly the start and symbol of perhaps a small bit of hope for freedom.
I just wish the book and plot had a bit more drive behind it, smore payoff and greater connections. More tightly written is what I think I was hoping for! Also, I don't think I actually really liked ANY of the characters, but the lovely writing and sense of place and time (the research the author put in shone through) was enough to keep me reading and find out what happened to them all in the end.
I enjoyed the imagery and plot of the mermaid and how it could represent womanhood, femininity as a whole, particularly at that time, mirroring how each female character was trapped in someway, somehow at that time. And the longing to escape. But also on a wider scale of each character, each trying to escape their own lives for bigger, better and greater things. But do they, and do we, ever truly find it?
I just wish the book and plot had a bit more drive behind it, smore payoff and greater connections. More tightly written is what I think I was hoping for! Also, I don't think I actually really liked ANY of the characters, but the lovely writing and sense of place and time (the research the author put in shone through) was enough to keep me reading and find out what happened to them all in the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Trafficking
darcyjanea's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Racism
Minor: Child death, Abortion, and Slavery